3 Germany Must Invest More in Its Future Germany Must Invest More in Its Future by Stefan Bach, Guido Baldi, Kerstin Bernoth, Jürgen Blazejczak, Björn Bremer, Jochen Diekmann, Dietmar Edler, Beatrice Farkas, Ferdinand Fichtner, Marcel Fratzscher, Martin Gornig, Claudia Kemfert, Uwe Kunert, Heike Link, Karsten Neuhoff, Wolf-Peter-Schill, and C. Katharina Spieß Shortly before the parliamentary election in 213, Germany is riding on a wave of euphoria: hardly any other euro country has weathered the financial and debt crisis so well. Since 29, GDP has grown by over eight percent and 1.2 million new jobs have been created. Public finances were consolidated and, in 212, there was a fiscal surplus of.2 percent of GDP. An impressive financial position indeed for a country that, only ten years ago, was considered the sick man of Europe. But it is also a deceptive one. If one substitutes these for other comparative figures, then this image is seriously tarnished. Since 1999, Germany has achieved lower economic growth than the rest of the euro area. Real wages have barely increased since 1999 and real consumer spending has grown much more in the euro area on average than in Germany. In addition, German net public assets have contracted significantly. In 1999, net state assets were about 2 percent of GDP and, by 211, they had declined to.5 percent of GDP and are, therefore, no longer available for future generations. In many areas, Germany has not really progressed at all and in some areas it has fallen significantly behind other countries. These arrears have not been balanced out by recent positive developments. Overall, Germany has missed significant opportunities for growth. Not only is the Federal Republic of Germany one of the world s biggest exporters, but it is also one of the best savers in the world. Hardly any developed country has such a high savings rate as Germany. A considerable part of these savings were not invested in Germany, but abroad. However, these foreign investments did not bring the returns investors had hoped for. Since 1999, German investors have lost about 4 billion euros through bad investments abroad, about 15 percent of GDP. From 26 to 212, this figure was as high as 6 billion euros or 22 percent of gross domestic product. The money lost abroad was not, therefore, available for domestic investment. The German rate of investment is low by international standards, and it continues to drop. In 1999, it represented about 2 percent of GDP and it is currently at just over 17 percent. Even countries with difficult economic environments at present, such as France and Italy, invest more in their own countries. Since Germany places due to its specialization in research-intensive industries and knowledge-intensive services comparatively high demands on its production environment in terms of human capital, resource conservation, and mobility, it should, therefore, invest significantly more than other countries so as to be able to ensure healthy growth and increase income in the long term. Since 1999, Germany has had an investment gap of three percent of GDP compared with the average in the euro area (not including Germany). Cumulatively, this corresponds to roughly one trillion euros since 1999 over 4 percent of current GDP. Had the rate of investment corresponded approximately to the euro area average, GDP per capita would have grown by almost one percent more each year. A large portion of total investment is financed by firms and private households. If they were to divert only a portion of their investment and invest it profitably in Germany, instead of losing it abroad as in the past, much would be gained also for the investors. Investment in Germany in the first decade of this century proved extremely profitable. The government must provide another portion of total investment and it has scope to do so, despite the debt brake. Last year with weak economic growth only a small surplus was achieved initially. By 217, the annual surplus will rise to around 28 billion euros. At the same time, financing costs for the German government are currently lower than ever. This provides flexibility without necessarily the need to discuss the revenue or expenditure side. 3

4 Germany Must Invest More in Its Future The main question is how private investment activity in Germany can be increased and the investment gap bridged in the medium term. The response to the significant losses recorded in foreign investment in recent years will play a role here. Private investors will adjust their investment strategies and investing in Germany should become more appealing. Furthermore, increased public investment in areas such as education and transport infrastructure will improve domestic production conditions. The increased attractiveness of Germany as an investment location will then act as a driver for private investment. In addition, the implementation of the energy policy will also provide significant impetus to private investment activities. Both the government and employees stand to benefit from the returns on these additional investments. According to our estimates, bridging the investment gap could lead to significantly higher economic growth in the medium term. In 217, potential growth would be.6 percentage points higher than it would be in a scenario of persistently low investment activity. Instead of potential growth of about one percent, it would be 1.6 percent. This would not only help to reduce the national debt but also allow greater labor productivity and stronger wage growth. Researchers at DIW Berlin are interested in highlighting the urgency of the issue and the investment opportunities in Germany, and, for instance, to name three investment areas where additional investment would be particularly fruitful: energy, transport infrastructure, and education. The present study does not claim to outline a detailed investment plan to comprehensively analyze all areas with investment opportunities or to take away investment decisions from individual stakeholders. The implementation of the energy transition will require significant investment in facilities for the use of renewable energies in the power and heat sectors and in infrastructure, particularly in power grids. In addition, substantial investments are needed to improve energy efficiency, for example, by insulating buildings. Without this form of investment, the objectives of the energy policy are not achievable. We take the implementation of the energy policy in accordance with the German government s plans as given and simply intend to show what opportunities it offers. Our model estimations show that reorganizing energy supply could have a permanently positive effect on added value in Germany. However, the basis for these types of investment, which must be predominantly privately financed, are stable framework conditions in all these areas. Maintaining a quantitatively and qualitatively efficient transport infrastructure is a fundamental prerequisite for economic success and prosperity in Germany. However, in recent years, substantial investment in the maintenance and quality of transport infrastructure has been neglected. In road maintenance alone, calculations in our brief expert report show that an annual investment gap of almost four billion euros has opened up in the past few years. Assuming that at least this investment gap is required for maintaining the transport infrastructure in coming years, and if the cumulative result of years of neglect is also taken into account, the additional annual investment required will be at least 6.5 billion euros, money which will have to come mainly from public finances. In addition, there is also investment need in vehicles and selective network and capacity expansion that is difficult to estimate. According to national accounting spending on education does not fall in the category of investment, but in the category of government consumption expenditure. Nevertheless, from an economical perspective the education sector can be seen as one of the most important areas of investment. It is a key factor for the future of modern economies. Investment in this area pays dividends, particularly to the overall economy. With education spending at around 5.3 percent of GDP, Germany is below the EU-21 average and also below the OECD- 33 average of 6.2 percent. Germany has a particularly large investment gap in early childhood education where prospective returns on education are especially high. It is a matter of urgency that Germany deals with this lack of investment and closes the investment gap. It is essential for Germany to pave the way for this now since it takes time for investments to bear fruit. In addition, Germany and especially Europe are still in crisis, and in a very weak position economically. Increased public and private investment today would not only fuel Germany s economic growth but also provide a significant impetus for growth in Europe as a whole. At present, this would be the most effective way for Germany to help its neighbors. Moreover, the investment gap should be tackled now since the German government, and also businesses and private households, have never been so economical to finance as they are today. In the long term, such a strategy is, therefore, not only fiscally possible but also beneficial to a sustained course of fiscal consolidation. First published as»deutschland muss mehr in seine Zukunft investieren«, in: DIW Wochenbericht no. 26/213. 4

5 More Growth through Higher Investment More Growth through Higher Investment by Stefan Bach, Guido Baldi, Kerstin Bernoth, Björn Bremer, Beatrice Farkas, Ferdinand Fichtner, Marcel Fratzscher, and Martin Gornig While many countries in the euro area are deep in recession due to a debt and structural crisis, the German economy appears to have excelled compared to many other euro area countries. Unemployment has fallen to the lowest level since German reunification, economic output has grown by over eight percent since 29, and public budgets have been consolidated, generating a surplus in 212. But this is no cause for euphoria. On the contrary, if one looks at Germany s economic development from a more long-term perspective, we can see that the country is lagging behind in many areas compared to most EU member states and most euro area countries. Since 1999, the euro area countries have on average achieved more economic growth than Germany and this increase in competitiveness can be largely attributed to wage moderation rather than productivity growth. The rate of investment has been falling for a long time and is very low by international standards. The estimations in this study indicate that Germany has had an annual investment gap of three percent of GDP, on average, since This means that Germany needs to invest substantially more in order to reduce the investment backlog accumulated in recent years and also to ensure higher potential growth and prosperity in the long term. At the same time, the savings rate in Germany is one of the highest by international standards. As evidenced by the enormous current account surpluses of seven percent in 212, a considerable part of Germany s savings went abroad, however, rather than being invested in Germany. Overall, Germany has thus missed out on significant growth opportunities at home. Equally important, since 1999, German investors have lost around 4 billion euros on their foreign assets, which corresponds to approximately 15 percent of GDP. In the period from 26 to 212 alone, this figure was 6 billion euros, or 22 percent of GDP. At the same time, Germany shows an average investment gap of around 75 to 8 billion euros each year. Calculations by DIW Berlin in this study indicate that if the German investment gap had been closed, annual German economic growth per capita would have been in the last 15 years on average up to one percentage point higher. Germany also has a high degree of specialization in research-intensive industries and knowledge-intensive services. As a prime location with high requirements concerning human capital, conservation of resources, and mobility, the country has a particularly high demand for structural capital investment. Simulations show that closing the investment gap of 3 percent of GDP in the medium term would lead to significantly higher economic growth in Germany. Potential growth would be.6 percentage points higher by 217: at 1.6 percent of GDP as opposed to around one percent. The fiscal space to fill the public sector share of this investment gap already exists as fiscal consolidation has already been achieved, and the fiscal surplus is projected to rise to 1 percent of GDP by 217. Thus the needed public investment spending can be financed with existing surpluses and would not require tax increases or expenditure reduction elsewhere. Also in light of more favorable financing conditions and fewer burdens on public finances in the coming years, the financial scope for public and private investment is currently extremely favorable and good use should be made of it now. 5

6 More Growth through Higher Investment Average annual growth of the German economy has been at 2.6 percent since 29 and the unemployment rate has dropped to the lowest level since reunification. 1 The export industry is competitive and managing to maintain high market shares in a difficult environment. 2 But we see a completely different picture over a longer period of time. Since 1999, the beginning of the European Economic and Monetary Union, the German economy has been lagging behind the euro area average in many respects. The average annual growth of GDP between 1999 and 212 was only very moderate at 1.3 percent; up until the financial crisis, it was even.4 percentage points below average growth in the euro area (see Figure 1). Although the unemployment rate in Germany, which was very high at the beginning of the millennium, has been continuously falling, real wages stagnated at the same time, however (see Figure 2). It is only since the financial crisis that these have been developing more positively than in the euro area overall. The wage restraint prevalent in Germany up until recently was a disappointing development for many private households and led to low private consumer spending (see Figure 3). Parallel to the weak development of consumer spending, saving levels in Germany are very high compared to other countries in the euro area. One might suppose that much of this money would then be invested in the country s future. But this is not the case: Germany s rate of investment is very low. At the same time, the country is in urgent need of investment. This shows that despite all the successes of the past few years, Germany has not created an investment basis to ensure robust growth. Low Investment in Germany A Study Domestic investment is very low in Germany. This does not only apply to tangible investment normally reflected in the national accounts, including, for example, the purchase of new machinery by companies or construction of roads by the government. To safeguard the future modern economies, expenditure on product and production planning and on research and education is also growing in importance. 3 However, in the national accounts, this fact has been largely ignored to date. 4 This applies to intangible investment by the corporate sector as well as public spending. For instance, despite its investment character, expenditure on personnel training is recorded as public consumer spending and not as intangible public investment. 1 K. Brenke, Sharp Drop in Youth Unemployment in Germany but Regional Differences Remain, DIW Economic Bulletin, no. 7 (213). 2 M. Gornig and A. Schiersch, German Manufacturing Withstands the Rise of Emerging Economies, DIW Economic Bulletin, no. 5 (212). 3 C. Corado, C. Hulten, and D. Sichel, Intangible Capital and the U.S. Economic Growth, Review of Income and Wealth 55 (3) (29): Only with the upcoming revision of the national accounts are there plans to include corporate expenditure on research and development under investment. Figure 1 Real GDP Index 1999 = 1 Figure 2 Real Wages Index 1999 = euro area (17 countries) France US France US Italy 15 1 Germany Italy 1 95 Germany Source: European Commission. Source: European Commission. 6

7 More Growth through Higher Investment Figure 3 Real Private Consumer Spending Index 1999 = 1 Figure 5 Germany's Investment Gap In percent of GDP US France euro area (17 countries) Italy Germany gross fixed capital formation in the euro area (not including Germany) gross fixed capital formation in Germany investment gap for Germany Source: European Commission. Figure 4 Gross Fixed Capital Formation In percent of GDP 22 2 Italy euro area (17 countries) France cumulative investment gap for Germany gross fixed capital formation in the euro area (not including Germany) gross fixed capital formation in Germany Germany US The investment gap for Germany is calculated as the difference between investment in the euro area and in Germany (in relation to GDP). Source: European Commission, calculations by DIW Berlin. 14 Figure 6 Source: European Commission. Net Fixed Capital Formation In percent of GDP Using the available data, the present empirical analysis concentrates initially on presenting the tangible (physical) investment activity. In addition, on the basis of current research, intangible investment of companies will then also be examined by means of an international comparison. As a key area of intangible public investment, the education sector is analyzed in a separate article. 5 The rate of investment i.e., the ratio between gross fixed capital formation and GDP in Germany was still at just under 2 percent in It is currently only just over 17 percent. Investment activity (in equipment and construction) in Germany is therefore significant euro area (17 countries) US France Italy Germany 5 See C. K. Spieß Investitionen in Bildung: Frühkindlicher Bereich hat großes Potential, Wochenbericht des DIW Berlin, no. 26 (213). Source: European Commission. 7

8 More Growth through Higher Investment Figure 7 Investment in Equipment In percent of GDP Figure 8 Investment in Construction In percent of GDP 1 9 Italy euro area (17 countries) euro area (17 countries) France US France Germany Germany US Italy 4 6 Source: European Commission. Source: European Commission. ly lower than in many other countries (see Figure 4). 6 Only in the US is less invested than in Germany. Since 1999, compared to the rest of the euro area, Germany has recorded an annual investment gap of around three percent of its GDP on average. If this backlog is accumulated over the years, this would correspond to about 4 percent of current GDP approximately one trillion euros (see Figure 5). As far as net investment is concerned i.e., taking into account depreciation of existing capital stock the low investment activity in Germany is even more evident (see Figure 6). If individual investment components are taken into consideration, it can be seen that particularly in construction, investment in the first decade of this century was low by international standards; of the countries studied, only the United States demonstrated an even lower level of investment activity in this area recently (see Figures 7 and 8). One key factor causing Germany to lag behind in construction investment is the years of underfinancing of new residential construction and the below average development of privately financed infrastructure development. 7 Private Intangible Investment Countries with a large manufacturing industry such as Germany typically also have a high level of physical investment. When it comes to quality-based competition, it 6 See also J. Zeuner, Zukunft braucht Investitionen, KfW Economic Research. Fokus Volkswirtschaft, no. 21, (May 3, 213). 7 M. Gornig and H. Hagedorn, Germany s Construction Industry: Strong Growth Followed by Stagnation, DIW Economic Bulletin, no. 1 (212). is increasingly important for companies to invest in their knowledge potential, however. This type of investment in research and development, marketing, further training, and management skills is defined as intangible. In this field, too, investment activity in Germany is weak overall, despite relatively high levels of research and development. Intangible investment as a share of GDP is at just under six percent (see Figures 9 and 1). In the US, however, almost nine percent of GDP is devoted to developing companies knowledge capital. Among the countries studied here, only in Italy is intangible investment even lower than in Germany. Public Tangible Investment If we only look at public investment activity, we can see that in Germany since the end of the 199s, particularly investment in the infrastructure and other construction work in relation to the GDP was gradually scaled back (see Table 1). The effect might be somewhat exaggerated due to what is defined as the government sector, since in the 9s economic activity at the municipal level was shifted to the corporate sector. The increased level in the 9s may also be largely due to German reunification. Overall, however, there has been a clear downward trend over the last ten years. An international comparison shows not only that public investment in Germany has deteriorated over time, but also its level is considerably lower. The difference can be partly explained by changes in the scope and definition of the government sector, but even then, the differences in level are likely to remain significant. Apart from 8

9 More Growth through Higher Investment Figure 9 Intangible Investment * In percent of GDP US Italy France Germany * All intangible investment which is not included in the national accounts. Sources: INTAN-INVEST Database, Corrado. C., Haskel, J., Iommi, M., Jonc-Lasionio, C. (212): Intangible Capital and Growth in Advanced Economies: Measurement and Compara-tive Results. CEPR Discussion Paper no. DP961, calculations by DIW Berlin. Figure 11 Macroeconomic Balance Sheet of the General Government in National Accounts Year-end figure in percent of GDP of the relevant year Assets Liabilities 1 8 Land underlying buildings and structures Dwellings Other buildings and structures Machinery and equipment Financial assets Figure 1 Investment in Research and Development* In percent of GDP 2,5 2, 1,5 US Germany France Net worth (= equity capital) Loan and other liabilities Sources: Federal Statistical Office, Bundesbank, calculations by DIW Berlin. 1,,5 Italy Public Wealth in Germany, * Not included in the national accounts. Sources: INTAN-INVEST Database, Corrado. C., Haskel, J., Iommi, M., Jona-Lasionio, C. (212): Intangible Capital and Growth in Advanced Economies: Measurement and Compara-tive Results. CEPR Discussion Paper no. DP961, calculations by DIW Berlin. in Germany, there has only been a decline in gross public investment in Austria, Belgium, and Switzerland. In most countries in the euro area, the EU, or in the US, public investment relative to the GDP has remained virtually constant over the years. Weak public investment activity has contributed to the considerable decline in Germany s public wealth (see Figure 11). 8 On the asset side of the general government s balance sheet, we see fixed assets, divided into land underlying buildings and structures, dwellings, other buildings and structures, as well as machinery and equipment and intangible fixed assets. Most of the public fixed assets fall under other buildings and structures, i.e, the public infrastructure in the form of transport rou- 8 Here, we use data from the marcoeconomic balance sheets, compiled by the Federal Statistical Office and the Bundesbank as part of the national accounts and financial accounts. The assets and debts are shown in relation to the GDP. Deutsche Bundesbank, Federal Statistical Office, Sectoral and macroeconomic balance sheets (Deutsche Bundesbank, 212). On the data sources and methods, see German Federal Bank, Integrierte sektorale und gesamtwirtschaftliche Vermögensbilanzen für Deutschland, Monatsbericht (January 28). 9

10 More Growth through Higher Investment Table 1 Gross Capital Formation of the General Government in Selected OECD Countries In percent of GDP Germany Netherlands Sweden Austria Finland Switzerland Belgium France Italy Spain Portugal Greece Ireland UK US Canada Japan Australia New Zealand Korea Euro area EU Source: OECD, National Accounts Database, May However, rather than being used to develop the domestic capital stock, a significant share of German savings is invested abroad. Banks invested part of their savings deposits in the US subprime or Spanish property markets; private investors used their money to buy securities worldwide or transferred it to foreign bank accounts. Over the years, the current account surplus has continued to grow (see Figure 13). However, overall, investments abroad did not pay off. Foreign investment defined here as cumulative current account balances resulted in an increase in net foreign assets only initially (see Figure 14). However, since the financial and economic crisis, German investors have had to accept significant valuation losses. While domestic investment generally maintained its value, investment in foreign real estate markets or securities, for instance, saw its value plummet. Since 1999, German investors have lost approximately 4 billion euros on their foreign assets, which corresponds to around 15 percent of the country s GDP. In the period between 26 and 212 alone, the figutes, utilities and waste management systems, administrative and other buildings. The financial assets and liabilities are from the financial accounts of the Bundesbank (German Federal Bank). 9 The government s financial assets are primarily deposits in the banking system, shares in companies, and loans to companies, private households, or foreign countries and organizations. In 1999, net worth (= equity capital) of the general government sector was about 2 percent of GDP and, by 211, it had declined to.5 percent of GDP and is, therefore no longer available for future generations. High Savings Rate But Lack of Investment Germany s persistently weak investment is even more striking considering the development and high national savings rate (see Figure 12). Between 1999 and 23, saving at the macroeconomic level was almost consistently over 2 percent of GDP. Subsequently, savings forma- 9 Deutsche Bundesbank, Financial accounts for Germany 26 to 211, Special Statistical Publication (June 24, 212). tion increased dramatically, reaching a peak value of almost 27 percent in 27. During the global financial crisis, a slight decline was recorded, but at approximately 24 percent in 212, the figure was still considerably higher than in the 199s. 1

11 More Growth through Higher Investment Figure 12 National Savings In percent of GDP 28 Figure 14 Net Foreign Assets In percent of GDP Germany Source: IMF US cumulative current account balances net foreign asset position cumulative valuation gains/losses Figure 13 Current Account Balance In percent of GDP Source: IMF. Germany US Italy France re was even as high as 6 billion euros, or 22 percent of GDP. 1 Despite high annual current account surpluses, in fact, in 211, Germany s net foreign assets slid back to the 25 level. Although other euro area countries also had to accept a decline in the value of their foreign assets during the economic crisis, these were, for the most part, minimal. Some countries, such as the US in particular, were even able to secure valuation gains in the long term. Despite high cumulative current account cumulative valuation gains/losses net foreign asset position cumulative current account balances Source: IMF, calculations by DIW Berlin. deficits, the US has only experienced a slight drop in the value of its net foreign assets since A comparison of the average macroeconomic profitability of investment in the individual OECD countries between 2 and 21 makes it even more surprising that German savings were invested abroad on such a large scale. The ICOR, 11 which measures the average rate of investment in relation to GDP growth, indicates that with investments made, by international standards, Germany achieved high economic growth (see Figure 15). Only in the UK, the US, and Sweden was the investment efficiency higher than in Germany. A significant impetus for German investment abroad was probably the expectation of high returns. However, 1 See also E. Klär, F. Lindner, and K. Sehonic, Investitionen in die Zukunft? Zur Entwicklung des deutschen Auslandsvermögens, Wirtschaftsdienst 3 (213): ICOR stands for Incremental Capital-Output Ratio and is used to denote investment efficiency. 11

12 More Growth through Higher Investment Figure 15 Efficiency of Investments Based on Inverse ICOR* Average from 21 to 21 Figure 16 Growth in Potential Production In percent UK US Sweden Germany Turkey Poland Netherlands France Norway Finland Denmark Mexico Belgium Luxembourg Chile Italy Canada Switzerland New Zealand Ireland Hungary Austria Greece Iceland Japan Portugal Slovakia Slovenia Czech Republic Australia Spain Korea Estonia 1 2 ICOR = average investment rate / GDP growth Source: OECD, calculations by DIW Berlin France US euro area (17 countries) Italy Germany Potential production denotes the macroeconomic production that would be achievable if economic production factors were fully exploited. Source: European Commission. Figure 17 Growth in Total Factor Productivity , in percent 1,2 1,1 1,,9 with hindsight, in recent years, this expectation was not fulfilled. The losses on investments abroad have made domestic investment more attractive, resulting in more funds flowing into certain sectors in Germany, such as construction. Alongside private investment, public investment also plays a major role in Germany s future economic development. On the one hand, public investment has to increase in order to bridge the substantial investment gap that has developed in recent years. On the other hand, this type of investment is necessary to secure Germany s position as an attractive business and investment location in the long term.,8,7,6,5 Total factor productivity denotes the share of economic growth not caused by labor and capital input but rather technological progress and use of resources. Source: European Commission. Investment Pivotal for Productivity and Growth In the last decade, the potential growth of the German economy was very low and certainly weaker than in other developed countries (see Figure 16). For the development of potential economic growth, total factor 12

13 More Growth through Higher Investment productivity (TFP) plays a decisive role, i.e., the share of economic growth that cannot be attributed to the traditionally measured factors, labor and capital input, but rather technological progress and resource management. Growth of TFP in Germany has also been declining since 1999 (see Figure 17). Germany has a high degree of specialization in knowledge-intensive sectors (see Figure 18). It has also maintained a competitive edge on the global market, particularly with its research-intensive industries in the hightech sector (chemical industry, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, and automobile production). 12 However, knowledge-intensive services are also gaining ground. To secure and expand the knowledge-intensive industries, significant investment is required both private and public, frequently both tangible and intangible. 13 Therefore, investing in the promotion of research and development as well as in education can make a significant contribution to boosting total factor productivity. Several scientific studies show that TFP and thus also potential growth is, to a significant extent, defined by a country s investment activity along with the level of education and investment in research and development. 14 It can, therefore, be assumed that the slow productivity development and moderate economic growth observed in Germany in recent decades can also be attributed to weak domestic investment activity. A regression analysis conducted by DIW Berlin confirms a positive correlation between per capita economic growth and investment activity in general and investment in education and research and development in particular (see box). Based on estimates, this study calculates the effect of two different scenarios on Germany s per capita economic growth: a) A three-percent increase in Germany s rate of investment, more or less corresponding to the average investment gap since 1999 as compared with the euro area as a whole could result in per capita GDP growth of around.85 percentage points higher. b) A rate of investment equivalent to the longstanding OECD average, which corresponds to around 22 percent, could see Germany s per capita economic growth increase by as much as one percentage point. The historical path of per capita economic 12 Gornig and Schiersch, German Manufacturing wthstands the Rise of Emerging Economies, DIW Economic Bulletin 5, 212: Bedeutung der Wissenswirtschaft im Euroraum und in anderen Industrienationen, Studien für die Expertenkommission Forschung und Innovation 7 (213). 14 See, for example, R. Barro, X. Sala-i-Martin, Economic Growth, 2nd ed. (MIT Press Books, 23); D. Coe, E. Helpman, and A. Hoffmaister, International R&D Spillovers and Institutions, European Economic Review 53 (7) (29): Figure 18 Sectoral Specialization Sectoral share of gross value added, in percent Germany US EU-14 EU-1 high technology leading-edge technology knowledge-intensive services Sources: WIOD (212); OECD STAN (212); Eurostat (212); UNSD (212), calculations and estimates by DIW Berlin. Figure 19 Simulation of Germany's Per Capita Growth In percent scenario with high investment model forecast actual development 1995 to to to 28 Sources: European Commission; Penn World Tables; World Bank, calculations by DIW Berlin. growth with a higher rate of investment is simulated to substantiate this finding (see Figure 19). A continuous increase in investment activity is shown to trigger an increase not only in per capita economic growth but also in potential growth. 15 Assuming TFP 15 The European Commission s method framework is particularly suitable for simulating potential growth in the medium term. For a detailed description of this method, see F. D Auria, C. Denis, K. Havik, K. McMorrow, C. Planas, R. Raciborski, W. Röger, and A. Rossi, The Production Function Methodology for 13

14 More Growth through Higher Investment Box Regression Analysis Table 1 Dependent Variables: Per Capita GDP Growth (1) (2) Per capita GDP in 1995 (in log) 12.76*** 1.48*** Investment (in log) ** Education (average years of schooling).66*** Direct investment.3**.2** R&D 1.15* 1.24 Expenditure per elementary school student.1 Constants *** 95.6*** Number of observations R *, **, *** denotes significance at the 1, 5, and 1-percent level. Table 2 Dependent Variables: Growth in Total Factor Productivity (TFP) (1) (2) TFP ( 1).21**.22*** Per capita GDP in 1995 (in log) 8.65*** 8.43*** Investment (in log) 2.78** 4.14*** Education (public expenditure).22** R&D Direct investment Openness of the economy (in log) 4.2*** 3.19*** Expenditure per elementary school student.4* Constants 8.3*** 85.84*** Number of observations R In order to examine the impact of investment in the infrastructure and in education and research on long-term per capita GDP growth, a regression analysis was conducted using panel data for 19 OECD countries for the period from 1995 to 28 (see Table 1). The findings indicate that investment and the level of education, measured as total years of schooling, 1 have a significant impact on economic performance per capita, even in the medium term. The estimated values remain robust, also when the remaining control variables are factored in. 2 1 This corresponds to the proxy variable that is usually used for the level of education of the country. 2 See Barro and Sala-i-Martin, Economic Growth, The MIT Press, 2nd edition, 23. *, **, *** denotes significance at the 1, 5, and 1-percent level. The estimated findings show that a ten-percent increase in the rate of investment boosts per capita economic growth by almost.5 percentage points. This means that an increase in the German rate of investment of four percentage points, from its current level of just over 17 percent to the longstanding OECD average, could result in economic growth of almost one percentage point. An increase in the level of education would trigger a further surge in growth, and research and development expenditure also has a positive impact on economic growth. growth continues to rise from 213, compared to levels reached between 2 and 28 by the highly productive group of European countries (Sweden, Finland, and Austria), and also assuming the rate of investment continually increases from 22 percent the longstanding average OECD rate by 217, Germany s poten- Calculating Potential Growth Rates and Output Gaps, Economic Papers 42 (21). tial growth could be at 1.6 percent and thus around.6 percentage points higher than would be the case if investment, education, and research expenditure remain unchanged (see Figure 2). The growth-promoting effect of stronger investment activity in Germany would create the basis for a sustainable increase in real disposable income. A regression analysis with income growth as a dependent variable 14

15 More Growth through Higher Investment Figure 2 Table 3 Potential Growth with Increased Investment and Total Factor Productivity In percent Dependent Variables: Annual Growth of Real Disposable Income In percent Investment (in log) 1.76* Primary education.4 R&D 1.1** Direct investment.1** (1) scenario with high investment and high productivity scenario with low investment Constants 7.3*** Number of observations 44 R 2,64 *, **, *** denotes significance at the 1, 5, and 1-percent level. Source: European Commission, calculations by DIW Berlin. Table 2 Selected Fiscal Figures In relation to nominal GDP Furthermore, it is evident from the regression analyses that the positive effect of investment in education and research primarily influences total factor productivity. This emphasizes the crucial importance of this type of investment for future economic growth, particularly for the knowledge-intensive industries (see Table 2) Nominal fiscal balance* ¾ ¾ 1 Structural fiscal balance* ¾ ¾ 1 * Based on the national accounts as of February 213. Source: Federal Statistical Office, calculations by DIW Berlin. To examine how investment in the infrastructure and in education and research impacts income growth, the regression analyses were repeated using the annual growth of real disposable income as an independent variable (see Table 3). Both investment in general and investment in research and development in particular promote income growth. A four percentage point increase in the current rate of investment of 17 percent would lead to an increase in the growth of annual disposable real income of.4 percentage points. shows that the three determining factors, total investment, the degree of education, and the level of expenditures in research and development can lead to excessively higher incomein the medium term. If Germany s rate of investment were to increase to the level of the longstanding OECD average, this would result in a.4 percentage point increase in the annual growth of real disposable income. Sufficient Financial Leeway Exists The financing conditions for public and private investment are currently extremely favorable. This situation is also unlikely to change dramatically in the coming years. Germany is continuing to profit from the sustained uncertainty on the European financial markets; in search of comparatively secure investment opportunities, investors have increasingly focused on Germany. Furthermore, the real economic situation is also good, but, more importantly, the structure of economic growth with regard to public budgets is very favorable. Thus, economic growth is currently supported by the domestic market, and the labor market is developing positively. A study by DIW Berlin shows that, over the medium term, government budgets are expected to enjoy increasing surpluses. For the year 217 alone, a surplus of just under 28 billion euros is anticipated, which corresponds to approximately one percent of German GDP 15

16 More Growth through Higher Investment (see Table 2). 16 These surpluses are expected to be mainly of a structural nature, i.e, not driven by economic developments. During the same period, the debt ratio is expected to decrease substantially, particularly because some of the contingent liabilities resulting from the financial crisis are likely to be dissolved. German financial policy should make use of this excellent fiscal situation and create a road map today for higher potential growth in the future. Investment in research and education should be prioritized. Conclusion It is a matter of some urgency that Germany deals with this lack of investment and closes the investment gap as soon as possible. It is essential for Germany to pave the way for this now since it takes time for such investment to bear fruit. Increased public and private investment today would not only fuel Germany s economic growth but also provide a significant impetus for growth in Europe as a whole. At present, this would be the most effective way for Germany to help its neighbors. Stefan Bach is a Research Associate in the Public Economics Department at DIW Berlin Guido Baldi is a Research Associate in the Department of Forecasting and Economic Policy at DIW Berlin Kerstin Bernoth is Deputy Head of the Department of Macroeconomics at DIW Berlin Björn Bremer is an intern in the Department of Forecasting and Economic Policy at DIW Berlin Beatrice Farkas is a Research Associate in the Department of Macroeconomics at DIW Berlin Ferdinand Fichtner is Head of the Department of Forecasting and Economic Policy at DIW Berlin Marcel Fratzscher is President of DIW Berlin Martin Gornig is Deputy Head of the Innovation, Manufacturing, Service Department at DIW Berlin JEL: E21, E22, E23, O47 Keywords: Public and private investment, potential growth, net foreign assets First published as»wege zu einem höheren Wachstumspfad«, in: DIW Wochenbericht no. 26/ See K. van Deuverden, Mittelfristige Wirtschaftsentwicklung: Stabiles Wachstum und hohe Überschüsse der öffentlichen Haushalte, Wochenbericht des DIW Berlin, no. 16 (213). 16

17 INTERVIEW SEVEN QUESTIONS TO MARCEL FRATZSCHER»Germany s Big Weakness is a Lack of Investment«Prof. Marcel Fratzscher, Ph.D., President of the German Institute for Economic Research (DIW Berlin). 1. Professor Fratzscher, in comparison with the rest of Europe, the German economy seems to be flourishing. Is Germany really doing as well as it appears to be? Germany weathered the crisis very well. However, if we look back 15 or 2 years, even by European standards, Germany was performing comparatively poorly. In the last 15 years, German growth has been very weak, its productivity growth marginal, and its wage development also very disappointing. Therefore, we really have no reason to be riding on a wave of euphoria as is currently the case. 2. So, what is the problem? Germany s biggest weakness is a lack of investment. Germany has one of the lowest rates of investment in the world. Relative to economic output, in the last 2 years, investment in Germany has plummeted. It would also make sense to use additional investment opportunities in the public sector, particularly in the transport infrastructure and in education. In the private sector, significant investment is needed to implement the energy transition. To improve Germany s medium and long-term growth prospects, we would need to see an increase in investment of three percent of GDP. 3. The German government has adopted a rigid austerity policy. Should it abandon this approach? No, fiscal consolidation is important. Public budgets must have a solid foundation. This is something that can be seen quite clearly from the debt crises in Europe. German public budgets are already generating slight surpluses again, which means that we already have the financial means to be able to make the necessary investments immediately. 4. How can investors be persuaded to invest more in Germany? The main aim should be to improve Germany s appeal as an investment location. To do this, we have to create the right framework conditions to convince companies to invest here. Obviously, this includes the infrastructure in the widest sense, an adequate skilled labor force, as well as legal certainty and planning security for businesses. 5. Lured by high returns, banks have tended to invest abroad. Yes, but that proved to be a mistake since, particularly in the last ten years, not only banks but also private companies and private households have recorded significant losses on their foreign investment. Our study highlights that, in the last ten years, investment in Germany has been very profitable compared to other countries. 6. When should we start to address the problem? These investments should be made as a matter of urgency. First, because Germany s economy is continuing to falter. Second, because financing conditions for the German government have never before been as favorable as they are at present. Third, because many of these investments will not bear fruit immediately but rather will need years to yield profits. 7. How much could the gross domestic product profit from more investment, in the medium and long term? According to our calculations, potential growth could be almost 5 percent higher. More specifically, this means that the ability of the German economy to generate growth and thus also employment, wage increases, and income has, at just under one percent of economic output per annum, been very limited to date. Implementing these investments would increase potential growth to almost 1.6 percent. Interview by Erich Wittenberg. 17

18 Automobility in Flux: More Women and Older Drivers at the Wheel Automobility in Flux: More Women and Older Drivers at the Wheel by Uwe Kunert, Sabine Radke, Bastian Chlond, and Martin Kagerbauer Having barely registered an increase at the beginning of the new millennium, during the economic upturn after 29, there was significant growth in the mileage by registered motor vehicles in Germany, both in the case of utility vehicles and automobiles. Overall, in 211, automobiles covered a higher mileage than ever before. Despite more efficient engines, this resulted in fuel consumption stagnating in recent years, although the long-term trend is one of decline. With an 85-percent share of total mileage, automobiles dominate our roads. This transport demand pattern is predominantly created by the needs of private households and it is currently in a state of flux when it comes to gender and age balance. Women s growing presence in education and on the labor market has, in turn, resulted in an increase in their car ownership and mileage. At the same time, men and women are maintaining a more mobile lifestyle by retaining their cars into older age. However, more limited car use has been observed, particularly among young people who, more frequently than previously, seem to be opting for the most suitable form of transport rather than traveling exclusively in their own vehicles. The development of transport demand is closely related to important components of economic progress. Passenger transport 1 is strongly correlated to household consumer spending and freight transport services 2 have a clear correlation to gross value added. To accurately depict and understand transportation, regular information is required that gives an insight into the causal relationships. Information about the socio-economic and demographic determinants of mobility are essential for transport policy and planning, and for evaluating them. This report first outlines the development of mileage and fuel consumption by motor vehicles. Commercial vehicles have covered approximately 15 percent of total distances, passenger cars around 85 percent. Furthermore, this report analyzes in more detail the changes that have taken place in socio-demographic factors and in the behavior of car users in recent years (see box), based on data from the German Mobility Panel. Further Increases in Registrations and Mileage by Commercial Vehicles New registrations of trucks and semi-trailers continued to rise in 211 and reached 316, units, more than in the years immediately before the crisis of 28/29. These commercial vehicles traveled more than 8 billion kilometers which exceeded the mileage in more recent years. 2.7 million trucks and semi-trailers contributed to one tenth of total mileage by German vehicles (see Figure 1). The heavier trucks and semi-trailers with a payload of 3.5 tonnes or more are mainly used for freight transport over longer distances. In 211, the mileage by these vehicles, currently 46,, exceeded 3 billion kilome- 1 Expressed as the sum of the distances traveled passenger-transport performance in passenger-kilometers. 2 Freight transport performance in tonne-kilometers. 18

19 Automobility in Flux: More Women and Older Drivers at the Wheel Box Data on Vehicle Use and Mobility In addition to official statistics, representative surveys of passenger, commercial and vehicle transport are carried out at irregular intervals. 1 The Federal Ministry of Transport, Building and Urban Development surveys the mobility of households and their vehicle use with annual sampling for the German Mobility Panel. In addition, DIW Berlin calculates annual mileage (in vehicle-kilometers) by German vehicles by type of vehicle and engine as an essential component of transport demand. Calculating Mileage by German Vehicles Complete and consistent information about the distance driven by German vehicles is not available at regular intervals. Official statistics only provide annual information on mileage for heavy goods vehicles over 3.5 tonnes, and for tractors and buses. These figures are recorded by the Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA) and the Federal Statistical Office. 2 Representative surveys on the usage and mileage by passenger cars and light commercial vehicles have only been conducted at long intervals, most recently in 1993 and 22. To obtain a consistent data basis, DIW Berlin has calculated the development of annual mileage and fuel consumption according to vehicle and propulsion type. 3 DIW Berlin has estimated the mileage based on the fuel consumed by road traffic, the number of vehicles, the average consumption per vehicle, and the average mileage. 4 1 The nationwide sample surveys relevant to passenger transport are Mobilität in Deutschland from 22 to 28 (mobilitaet-in-deutschland. de) and the annual German Mobility Panel (mobilitaetspanel.de). Kraftfahrzeugverkehr in Deutschland was a survey carried out in Germany in 22 and 21 on commercial and freight transport vehicles (kid21. de). Freight vehicle transport statistics continuously monitor German commercial vehicles over 3.5 tonnes (kba.de). The mileage of all German vehicles were last recorded in the Fahrleistungserhebung 22 (bast.de). 2 Federal Motor Transport Authority, Verkehr deutscher Lastkraftfahrzeuge. The Federal Statistical Office, Specialist Series 8, Series 3. 3 The mileage is calculated for compiling Verkehr in Zahlen on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Transport, Building and Urban Development (BMVBS) (ed.), compiled by S. Radke, DIW Berlin, annually, Hamburg. This Economic Bulletin publishes information and estimates that extend beyond this publication. 4 Important data sources for these calculations are the Federal Motor Vehicle Office, Federal Statistical Office, Association of the German Petroleum Industry. This report takes account of all motor vehicles registered in Germany and their mileage, including journeys traveled In addition to making calculations based on fuel consumption, the development of the mileage of cars is estimated using structural features. These estimates are based on known usage parameters for vehicle types from the survey of mileage from 22. Variance analyzes of data from the 1993 and 22 surveys on mileage show that average distance driven can be estimated from vehicle characteristics, such as vehicle age, propulsion type, capacity, engine power, top speed, tare weight and holder category. 5 The average consumption values for passenger cars are calculated on the basis of test consumption data. German Mobility Panel The travel behavior survey by the German Mobility Panel (MOP) is commissioned by the Federal Ministry of Transport, Building and Urban Development. The fieldwork is carried out by specialized research institutes. The Institute for Transport Studies at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) is responsible for the design and for the scientific management and analysis of the survey. Since 1994, almost 2, people have been asked annually about their mobility behavior for the MOP. Participants in the study reported socio-demographic characteristics about their households and the people living in them as well as all trips taken in a week, the reasons for taking those trips, the modes of transport used and the distances and duration of those trips. The same people were interviewed in the two subsequent years. This everyday mobility data can be used to analyze the travel behavior of the German population, and to identify and interpret changes in that behavior. abroad. It does not include the mileage of vehicles registered abroad. For procedures and revisions compared to calculations up to 22, see J. Kloas, H. Kuhfeld and U. Kunert, Straßenverkehr: Eher Ausweichreaktionen auf hohe Kraftstoffpreise als Verringerung der Fahrleistungen, Wochenbericht des DIW Berlin, no. 41 (24). 5 See D. Kalinowska, J. Kloas, H. Kuhfeld, and U. Kunert, Aktualisierung und Weiterentwicklung der Berechnungsmodelle für die Fahrleistungen von Kraftfahrzeugen und für das Aufkommen und für die Verkehrsleistung im Personenverkehr (MIV) (25). On behalf of the Federal Ministry of Transport, Building and Housing, Berlin; D. Kalinowska and H. Kuhfeld, Motor Vehicle Use and Travel Behaviour in Germany: Determinants of Car Mileage, DIW Berlin Diskussionspapier, no. 62 (26). 19

20 Automobility in Flux: More Women and Older Drivers at the Wheel Figure 1 In addition, the mileage driven as well as tanked and consumed fuel volumes are recorded as part of MOP s odometer reading and fuel consumption survey for all vehicles in participating households for eight weeks in spring, to analyze the mileage and real consumption values of all German passenger cars. The MOP provides representative results for Germany and publishes annual results for mobility parameters, such as transport participation, number of trips per person, vehicle performance (kilometers per person per day), modes of transport and data on the use of passenger cars (distance driven and consumption figures). The longitudinal nature of the survey (data over a week and for three consecutive years) makes is possible to analyze changes in respondents travel behavior. Linking data from the MOP everyday mobility survey with data from the MOP odometer reading and fuel consumtion survey allows detailed analyzes of the interactions and relationships of the mobility behavior of individuals across different modes of transport and the mileage and fuel consumption of the cars. Mileage by Motor Vehicles Registered in Germany In billion vehicle-kilometers other motor vehicles trucks/semi-trailers Source: calculations by DIW Berlin. petrol cars diesel cars Is the decline of mileage by petrol cars phasing off? ters. Corresponding to this rise in mileage, transport performances (in tonne-kilometers) of goods vehicles has also increased. 3 Commercial vehicles are almost exclusively powered by diesel engines. Their share of diesel fuel consumption in 211 was 47 percent (see Table 3). 4 Passenger Cars: Significant Increase in Numbers and Mileage At the beginning of 212, there were nearly 43 million registered passenger cars in Germany. New car registrations were below the long-term average in 211 at almost 3.2 million. However, the stock of vehicles grew by more than 6,. This is due to only 2.5 million cars being scrapped or exported, which is below the average of previous years. Obviously, the effects of the scrapping premium, which led to the disposal of around 3.5 million cars in 29, were still ongoing today. But, at the same time, this means that the average age of German cars continues to rise and now stands at a new high 3 For the current statistics on transport services, see S. Radke, Verkehr in Zahlen 212/ Here and in the following the fuel data include biogenic shares which in 211 had an energy share of 5.5 percent of total fuel consumption (gasoline and diesel), see Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU), Renewable Energies in Figures (Berlin: 212). Consumption figures include refueling abroad. 2

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